Joey Chestnut Clinches 18th Nathan's Title, Blames Scorching Heat for Lower Hot Dog Count

By Jana Winter

July 4 (Reuters) — Joey Chestnut defended his Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest title for the 18th time Saturday, but the eating champion conceded that historic heat gripping the East Coast played a role in his reduced tally of 66 hot dogs — well short of his personal best of 76 set in 2021.

The annual Fourth of July spectacle in New York City's Coney Island drew thousands of spectators, but the midday sun pushed temperatures near 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) with oppressive humidity, creating a challenge that went beyond the usual competitive pressure. “I knew early that I was going to win, but I also knew early I wasn’t going to break the record,” Chestnut told ESPN moments after the 10-minute contest. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto half-eaten buns as he pushed through the final minutes, and competitors reported that the heat made the hot dog buns turn soggy and slowed their swallowing.

Chestnut, who consumed 70.5 hot dogs at the 2025 event, said the conditions were unlike any he had faced in his storied career. “I’m not going to get into it looking for an excuse, but yeah, it slowed me down,” he said. The reigning champion's winning margin was still comfortable: Patrick Bertoletti, who won the title in 2024, finished second with 51 hot dogs.

On the women's side, undefeated champion Miki Sudo captured her 12th Mustard Belt by eating 38.75 hot dogs, extending her remarkable streak. The extreme weather has raised questions among organizers about future scheduling or safety measures, as climate shifts make such outdoor competitions more unpredictable. For Chestnut, however, the day’s result was another chapter in a legacy that has made him the face of competitive eating globally — even when the heat tried to steal the show.

(Reporting by Jana Winter in Washington; Editing by Sergio Non and Rod Nickel)